A novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus recently emerged in the Yangtze River delta and caused diseases, often severe, in over 130 people. This H7N9 virus appeared to infect humans with greater ease than previous avian inlfuenza virus subtypes such as H5N1 and H9N2. While there are other potential explanations for this large number of human infections with an avian influenza virus, we investigated whether a lack of conserved T-cell epitopes between endemic H1N1 and H3N2 inlfuenza viruses and the novel H7N9 virus contributes to this observation. Here we demonstrate that a number of T cell epitopes are conserved between endemic H1N1 and H3N2 viruses and H7N9 virus. Most of these conserved epitopes are from viral internal proteins. The extent of conservation between endemic human seasonal inlfuenza and avian inlfuenza H7N9 was comparable to that with the highly pathogenic avian inlfuenza H5N1. Thus, the ease of inter-species transmission of H7N9 viruses (compared with avian H5N1 viruses) cannot be attributed to the lack of conservation of such T cell epitopes. On the contrary, our ifndings predict signiifcant T-cell based cross-reactions in the human population to the novel H7N9 virus. Our findings also have implications for H7N9 virus vaccine design.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on immune function of premature rats.

METHODSRHuEPO of 250 IU/(kg.t) or 500 IU/(kg.t) was administered to premature rats every other day for nineteen days. The control premature rats were received normal saline. The changes of hemoglobin (Hb), serum erythropoietin (EPO), red blood cell (RBC) immune function, T lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness, and production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were observed.

RESULTSPremature rats showed lower levels on Hb, RBC immune function, T cell responsiveness and production of TNF-alpha compared with mature rats at birth. The postnatal declines of Hb and RBC immune function were lessened in the treated groups of premature rats, the higher dosage group of 500 IU/(kg.t) was more significant than the lower dosage group of 250 IU/(kg.t). When experiments were over, Hb of control premature rats was (7.72 +/- 0.89) g/dl, Hb of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (10.08 +/- 0.90) g/dl (P < 0.01). C3b-R% of control premature rats was (11.00 +/- 0.95)%, C3b-R% of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (17.75 +/- 1.04)% (P < 0.01). IC-R% in control premature rats was (12.83 +/- 1.33)%, IC-R% of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (10.50 +/- 1.67)% (P < 0.01). The postnatal rise of T cell responsiveness and the production of TNF-alpha in premature rats increased in the treated groups, which was more significant in the higher dosage group of 500 IU/(kg.t) than in the lower dosage group of 250 IU/(kg.t). The OD index of control premature rats was 0.159 +/- 0.014, the OD index of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was 0.354 +/- 0.050 (P < 0.01). TNF-alpha in control premature rats was (0.270 +/- 0.014) ng/ml, TNF-alpha of premature rats received 500 IU/(kg.t) was (0.415 +/- 0.010) ng/ml (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Premature rats had lower RBC immune function and T cell responsiveness and underproduction of TNF-alpha at birth. (2) Premature rats had an improvement with the RBC immune function after rHuEPO administration. (3) Premature rats had improvements with T cell responsiveness and TNF-alpha after rHuEPO administration, and there was a positive correction between the RBC immune function and T cell responsiveness with the production of TNF-alpha.

Animals ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; Erythropoietin ; blood ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo construct a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)approach that can improve the specificity of primers while dropping down the nonspecific amplification.

METHODSIn the recent study we reported a new RT-PCR assay which improved markedly the specificity. However its efficiency of regressing nonspecific amplification remains to be accurately checked and further documented. In primer design, we looked over again some sequences that showed differences at 5' or 3' ends between human CAV1 and mouse Cav1 genes. cDNAs and the diluted plasmids which harbored the sequence of human CAV1 or mouse Cav1 gene were chosen as the templates. The ordinary PCR compared with one, of which primers modified by phosphorothioate and combined with proofreading polymerase, for their efficiencies of nonspecific amplification inhibited.

RESULTSTaq DNA polymerase without proofreading activity could efficiently catalyze the extension of primers with a single or multiple mismatched base pairs at the 3' terminus, but the kind of primer extension can be effectively blocked by phosphorothioate modified primers combined with proofreading polymerase. Compared with ordinary PCR reaction, this new PCR method can effectively regress the primer mismatched amplification of 50 ng DNA almost equaling to 2 x 10(4) unmatched template copies in a final volume of 50 microL.

CONCLUSIONCompared with the first generation of polymerases with or without proofreading activities mediating RT-PCR reaction, the introduction of nuclease-resistant 3' modified primers (3' phosphorothioate primer extension) can offer more simplicity, accuracy, and also decrease cost.

Animals ; Caveolin 1 ; genetics ; Deoxyribonucleases ; metabolism ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Mice ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Thionucleotides ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo find the reasons why patients always have temporomandibular disorders (TMD) after condylar fracture by analyzing the stress distribution change of the condylar surface whose subcondylar fracture ware fixed by miniplate during the whole healing process.

METHODSAnalyzing the stress distribution change of the condylar surface whose subcondylar fracture were fixed by miniplate during the whole healing process by three-dimension finite element method (3D FEM).

RESULTSDuring the whole healing process of the fracture, the miniplate osteosynthesis was helpful to the biomechanics environment rehabilitation of the condylar local, but it still had difference with normal after fixing 12 weeks long.

CONCLUSIONThe difference of stress distribution of condylar surface that fractured and fixed by miniplate with normal may be part of the reason of TMD after the subcondylar fracture miniplate osteosynthesis.

Adult ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mandibular Fractures

Objective To understand the condition of lower genital tract infectious diseases among women in part of Beijing area including countryside population, nomadic population, high-risk group and medical workers.Methods Epidemiological methods were applied to investigate the condition of lower genital infectious diseases.General data were recorded in a questionnaire and several examinations of lower genital infectious disease were given to each person. The data was analyzed by statistics method. Result The morbility of Chlamydia was the highest in the lower genital tract infectious diseases in our research. Morbility of infusorians in person with the habit of tub bath was much higher than person with shower habit. Compared with the other three groups, out-patients of Peking University First Hospital have the highest morbility of Chlamydia. Conclusion Chlamydia has the highest morbility in this research( 12.6% ), and tub bath may increase the morbility of infusorians( P = 0.02, P ＜0.05).

Extracellular serine protease SFP2 from Streptomyces fradiae var. k11 with high feather-degrading activity was purified. The partial amino acid sequences of internal peptide of purified SFP2 were determined, and the partial gene encoding SFP2 was cloned by PCR using the degenerate primers designed according to the amino acid sequences. Complete sfp2 gene was cloned by screening the genomic DNA library of Streptomyces fradiae var. k11. The Open Reading Frame of sfp2 including pre- pro-enzyme is 924bp long (EMBL Accession number: AJ784940). The signal peptide sequence is as long as 114bp, the precursor sequence is 810bp and the mature enzyme is 576bp long, encoding 191 amino acid resides with the putative molecular weight of 19.112kD. In E. coli and Bacillus subtilis, the two sequences encoding SFP2 pro-enzyme and mature enzyme were both expressed successfully. The pro-enzyme expressed had normal biological function and its mature product had normal enzymatic activity.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacillus subtilis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Serine Endopeptidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Streptomyces ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

METHODSWe analyzed the clinical data of 56 cases of obstructive azoospermia, 43 of them with ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO), and the other 13 suspected of epididymal obstruction. The diagnostic methods included semen analyses, measurement of fructose and neutral alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), and vasography when necessary. The 43 patients with EDO were treated by transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct (TURED), and 11 of the 13 cases of suspected epididymal obstruction were confirmed by scrotal exploration and underwent either bilateral or unilateral vasoepididymostomy. The patients were followed up for 3 -51 months for postoperative semen quality and impregnation.

RESULTSOf the 43 azoospermia patients with EDO treated by TURED, 36 (83.7%) showed improved semen parameters and 11 (25.6%) achieved pregnancies. Among the 11 cases of azoospermia with confirmed epididymal obstruction treated by vasoepididymostomy, 6 (54.5%) had sperm in the semen assay and 3 (27.3%) achieved pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONSemen analyses, measurement of fructose and neutral alpha-glucosidase in the seminal plasma, TRUS and vasography are important diagnostic methods for obstructive azoospermia. TURED is effective for azoospermia with EDO, while vasoepididymostomy is preferable for the treatment of azoospermia with epididymal obstruction.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; etiology ; surgery ; Epididymis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Rectum ; diagnostic imaging ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Vas Deferens ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of different cells in the pulmonary lesions in the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.

METHODSThe monoclonal antibodies of CD8, CD20, CD34, LCA, CD56, CD68, and AE1/AE3 are used to demonstrate the different cells in the lung specimens of SARS patients in order to study the patterns of cell responses in this new disease. Meanwhile the HE stained slides were also carefully studied to compare with the results of immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe number of capillaries increased and the capillaries clearly outlined the contour of alveolar wall from beginning to early stage of organization, the number of lymphocytes decreased sharply while the number of macrophage remarkably increased, together with proliferation of type II pneumocytes. The numbers of blood vessels decreased in the fibrotic and consolidated lung tissue, and the vessel cavities enlarged, losing the normal contour of alveolar septa.

CONCLUSIONSThe lesions in the lung from SARS patients are consisted of the tissue reaction to the inflammatory injury, including extensive exudation, capillary proliferation, fibrosis, and obvious infiltration of macrophages which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary lesions of SARS.

Adult ; Antigens, CD ; immunology ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; immunology ; Capillaries ; pathology ; Edema ; pathology ; Female ; Fibrosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; blood supply ; pathology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; pathology

Objective: Renal fibrosis is the most common manifestation of chronic kidney disease(CKD).Noting that existing treatments of renal fibrosis only slow disease progression but do not cure it,there is an urgent need to identify novel therapies.Hydrogen sulfide(H2S)is a newly discovered endogenous small gas signaling molecule exerting a wide range of biologic actions in our body.This review illustrates recent experimental findings on the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of H2S against renal fibrosis and highlights its potential in future clinical application.Data sources: Literature was collected from PubMed until February 2019,using the search terms including "Hydrogen sulfide,""Chronic kidney disease," "Renal interstitial fibrosis," "Kidney disease," "Inflammation factor," "Oxidative stress," "Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition," "H2S donor,""Hypertensive kidney dysfunction,""Myofibroblasts,""Vascuar remodeling,""transforming growth factor(TGF)-beta/Smads signaling,"and "Sulfate potassium channels."Study selection: Literature was mainly derived from English articles or articles that could be obtained with English abstracts.Article type was not limited.References were also identified from the bibliographies of identified articles and the authors' files.Results: The experimental data confirmed that H2S is widely involved in various renal pathologies by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress,inhibiting the activation of fibrosis-related cells and their cytokine expression,ameliorating vascular remodeling and high blood pressure,stimulating tubular cell regeneration,as well as reducing apoptosis,autophagy,and hypertrophy.Therefore,H2S represents an alternative or additional therapeutic approach for renal fibrosis.Conclusions: We postulate that H2S may delay the occurrence and progress of renal fibrosis,thus protecting renal function.Further experiments are required to explore the precise role of H2S in renal fibrosis and its application in clinical treatment.

Objective To understand the prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) among different ethnic groups. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional survey was conducted. Subjects were selected by multistage stratified random sampling. Physical examination and laboratory testing were performed to collect MS related indicators, and the prevalence was standardized by the 6th general survey data. Further multivariate and logarithmic linear model methods were applied to analyze the risk factors and interaction. Results The overall prevalence of MS was 19.58%. The highest prevalence of MS was in Korean, followed by Han, while the lowest was in Kazakh. The rates of MS, overweight and obesity were higher in men than those in women, and increased along with age. Multivariate analysis result showed that the odds ratio (OR) of female to male was 0.556, and aging increased the risk of MS. The OR of central obesity was 2.765, and would reach to 4.259 when the waist-to-body ratio was over 0.52. The logarithmic linear model showed that the overweight/obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension and dyslipidemia had independent effects on the risk of MS. Also, there were interactions in the four indicators. Conclusions The incidence of MS is high and the positive interaction between the overweight/obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension and dyslipidemia is observed, making MS a common crisis to clinical and public health. In order to prevent and control MS, and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes, early screening of MS should be strengthened and lifestyle intervention should be carried out.